HMS Raleigh gives the public insight into life at the Torpoint base

Sailors grapple with a flooding compartment in Raleigh's impressive DRIU damage control trainer
THERE’S a chance to see what goes on at the RN’s premier training establishment in the South West when HMS Raleigh opens its gates to the public.
For six hours on Thursday July 25, the people of Torpoint – and beyond – will be invited inside the sprawling base for the first time in two years; around 5,000 people accepted the offer to the last open day.
On a typical week some 400 men and women are going through the ten-week conversion from civvy to sailor – this year Raleigh will feed the RN with upwards of 2,000 new ratings.

Trainees are briefed during the final exercise ahead of passing out, Bright Diamond
Although the base is principally known for that conversion process, its remit goes far beyond that: the vast complex is home to

• the School of Maritime Survival (fire-fighting, damage control, taking to life rafts);
• the Defence Maritime Logistics School, where chefs, stewards and logistics experts learn their skills
• the RN Submarine School, which features an impressive working replica of a submarine’s ‘bomb shop’ so boat crews can practise loading and removing missiles and torpedoes
• the Board and Search school, used extensively by sailors and Royal Marines, especially those deploying east of Suez on maritime security patrols.
• replenishment at sea simulator where sailors practise the art of refuelling and resupply in safety before doing it for real.

In all on a daily basis, there are about 2,000 people on sight – Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel, plus civilians.

An impressive aerial view of Friday divisions on Raleigh's parade ground
The chefs will lay on cookery demonstrations, recruiters and instructors will be on hand to talk about joining the RN and what people can expect, and visitors will be shown the (rather spartan) accommodation trainees share as they go through the ten-week basic training package.
“Everyone associates Raleigh with training new recruits and providing the life-blood of the Service, but there’s a whole host of other training carried out here – some of which is in direct support of front-line operations,” said Raleigh’s Commanding Officer Capt Bob Fancy.
The gates open at 10am and staff are particularly keen to welcome any Raleigh veterans to see what’s changed (and what’s not) down the years (the establishment traces its history back to 1940).